Can-closing machine



1939- J. M. HOTHERSALL r-:r AL 2,170,821

CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1957 5 Shets$heet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1939. J. M. HOTHERSALL AL 2,170,821

CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Au 29, 1939. .1. M. HOTHERSALL ET AL 2,170,321

CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 c 0% W Z M a ATTORNEYS 9 J. M. HOTHERSALL ET AL 2,170,821

CAN CLOS ING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1939.

J. M. HOTHERSALL m AL fi fi CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 rl/If J E TORS BY m 74/.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1939 v 2,170,821

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN-CLOSING momma John M. HothersalLBrooklyn, N. Y and August E. Almgren, Hillside, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 21, 1937, Serial N... 154,926 7 Claims. 01. 226-81 The present invention relates to can closing a horizontal plane indicated substantially by the machines and has particular reference to a maline 'I-| in Fig. 5; chine for closing the fiap or attached closure Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantiall element of a filled fibre milk container, can or along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

5 bottle and also for reforming the same after Fig. 9 isan elevational detail as viewed froma 5 closing to seal it against accidental displacement. yertical plane indicated substantially by the line An object of the invention is the provision of 9-9 in Fig, 7;

a can closing machinefor sealing filled fibre Fig. 10 is a bottom plan of an expanding head milk cans or bottles of the type having hinged part of the machine as viewed from a horizontal l closure elements or flaps which are preferably plane indicated substantially by the line l0lll 10 attached to the can and which are adapted to in Fig. be inserted in part into and to close a filling Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. and showing and dispensing opening provided in a wall of the the movable parts of the head in a different pocan, the machine also sealing the closure elesition;

ment in ca closing position. Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views of two 15 Another object is the provision in such a maof the moving parts of the head shown in Figs. chine of devices for extruding or expanding the 10 a d 12 Showing One P as Viewed closure element after it is in place in its filling fromone end while Fig. 13 shows the other P and dispensing opening in order to lock the 81S v ew fi the pp and closure element in can sealing position and ,Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section of 20 against accidental displacement during shipment an expa d he d a on Ow er O a can beand storage. ing' operated on, the view being taken substan- Another object is the provision in a machine tially along the line ll-ll in Fig. 2. of this character of members for properly locat- An exempla y form of can which is adapted ing and for holding a filled can while its closure be closed in the machine illustrated in the draw- 25 element is being expanded in can sealing p0s1-- ings is fully disclosed in the Hothersall Patent tion. 4 No. 2,085,979, issued by the United States Patent Numerous other objects and advantages of the Oflice on July 6, 1937. Such a can is herein ininvention will be apparent as it is better underdicated by, the letter 21 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5). The

stood from the following description, which, can is preferably made of fibre board and is pro- 30 taken in connection with the accompanying vided with fibre top and bottom end members. drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment The top end member is formed with. filling and thereof. dispensing opening c which is dis at one,

Referring to the drawings: 4 corner of the can. This opening is adapted to Figure l isaside elevation of a can closing mabe closed and sealed, after the can is filled,.by a 35 chine embodying the instant invention, parts beflap or closure element d which is hingedly seing broken way and other parts broken back and cured tothe top end member. The closure eleshown in section; ment is provided with a plugsection e formed Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, with to fit into and fill the opening 0 when the closure 40 parts broken away; element is in can closing position. 40 V Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken substan As a preferred embodiment of.-the present intially along the horizontal line H in Fig. 1; vention the drawings disclose a can closing ma- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational detail of chine in which the cans, filled with their con- Fig. 2 as viewed from a vertical plane indicated tents and ready to be finally sealed, are received substantially by the line 4-4 in that figure and from a suitable can filling machine A (Fig. 2) 45 showing the upper end of a can being operated or other can handling device. The cans are in on; vertical position with their closure elements d Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken open so as to uncover their filling openings 0,

substantially along the line 55 in Fig. 2,with A received can b is first passed through flap parts broken away, the view also showing a can closing devices B where its upright closure ele- 50 having its upper end broken back and shown ment (1 is pushed down fiat so that the plug sec- 7 is a fragmentary topplan as viewed iron). (3.

in section; tion e will enter and completely fill the filling Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken substanopening 0.. During this operation the can is tially along the horizontal line H in Fig. i; steadily advanced toward a flap sealing mech- Such a head may be of the type disclosed in the.

Hothersall Patent No. 1,823,047, issued by the United States Patent Oflice on September 15, 1931. Parts of the sealing head D enter the closed plug section e and extrude its side walls, expanding them to form an outwardly projecting bead f as shown in Fig. 14. The expanded head is larger in diameter than the opening and it therefore extends under the top end member adjacent the edges of the opening. The head thus locks the closure element d in can sealing position against accidental opening.

After sealing, the can is removed from the machine by discharge instrum'entalities E. In this removal provision is made for carrying the closed and sealed can along a straight path of travel to permit inspection.

The filled cans move in a continuous procession from the time they are first received from the filling machine A. The cans enter pockets 21 (Fig. 2) of a can feeding turret 22 of the flap closing devices B. The turret is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 23 which is journaled in a bearing 24 (see also Fig. 1) formed on a main machine frame 25. At its lower end the shaft 23 carries a spur gear 26 (see also Fig. 3) which is formed integrally with a bevel gear 21. The bevel gear 21 meshes with adriving pinion 28 mounted on a main drive shaft 29 journaled in a bearing 3| formed in aside of the main frame 25. The main drive shaft is continuously rotated in'any suitable manner and hence through the gear connection just described revolves the turret 22.

Rotation of the turret 22 advances the cans I) through a curved path of travel. During this advancement the cans are. supported on and are moved across a fiat table 35 which is located under the turret and which is secured to a flange 36 formed on the bevel gear shaft bearing 24. The cans are retained in the turret pockets 2| by inner and outer curved guide rails 31, 38 which are bolted to the top of table 35.

A flap closing member or bar 38 having an upturned end 4| (see Figs. 2 and 4) is disposed over the top of the path of travel of the cans b for closing the can flap or closure elements d as hereinbefore described. This bar also holds the flap d closed while the can is advanced. The bar is bolted to an upright 42 formed on the side of the outer curved guide rail 38.

The flap sealing mechanism C is located adjacent the fiap closing devices B and when the advancing closed cans reach the end of the fiap closing bar 39 they are then advanced by other feeding means. The closed cans are transferred by the inner guide rail 31 from the pockets 2| of the feeding turret 22 into spaced pockets 45 (Figs.

'2, 5 and '7) of upper and lower turret members which form a duplex or double can sealing turret 46 which is rotated in time with the can feedingturret 22.

The can sealing turret 46 is keyed to a rotatable 'column 48 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is supported on a base v49 formed in the main frame 25. The column surrounds astationary central post 5| the lower end of which is carried in a bore 52 formed in the base 48. The post is held in the base by a key 53. The column is rotated around the post by a gear 54 (see also Fig. 3) which is formed integrally with the column and which is driven b the spur gear 26 hereinbeforementioned.

The column 58 also carries a can supporting disc 56 (Figs. 5 and 7) which isdisposed under the turret 46 and which rotates with the column; The top of the disc is flush with the top of the table 35 and insures easy transfer of the cans. The disc is provided with a plurality of clearance recesses 57, each of which contains a fiat yieldable pad 58. There is one of these pads located directly under each pocket 45 of the turret 85 and when a closed can b moves from the turret 22 to the turret 56 it passes onto one of the pads and remains so located while in the turret pocket.

Each pad 58 is provided with a depending shouldered stem 5i which is carried in a shouldered bore 62 formed in a boss 63 on the bottom of the disc 56. A coiled compression spring 55 surrounds the stem and is interposed between the shoulders of the stem and'the bore. This spring supports the pad and permits the latter to be depressed slightly in its clearance recess when occasion requires. A collar 65, pinned to the outer end of the stem limits the upward movement of the pad under the action of the spring and normally holds the top of the pad flush with the top of the disc 56.

The closed cans b are held against displacement in the pockets 45 of the rotating turret 46 by a guide rail 66 which forms a continuation of the inner guide rail 31. The cans are also held by cam operated clamping arms 61 (Figs. 5, '7, 8 and 9) which are moved into position against the outer corner of a transferred can as soon as it is received in its pocket 45; The upper end of each of the arms is formed with a clamping plate 68 whichis shaped to fit the square contour of the can.

Each clamping arm 61 is mounted on a pivot pin 63 which is carried in a bearing ll formed on the bottom of the can suppo t disc A gear 12 is also mounted on the pivot pin and meshes with a rack formed in the top of a horizontal slide'13. The slide is retained in slideways formed in lugs 14 which depend from the bottom of the disc 56 and which are located adjacent the pin bearing 1|. The slide carries a cam roller 15 which operates in a cam groove 16 (see also Fig. 6) formed in a stationary cam 11 bolted to an annular boss 18 (see also Fig. 1) formed on the top of the main frame 25.

As the rotating column carries the turret 46 and can supporting disc 56 around the stationary cam H, the rollers 15 and slides 13 swing the can clamping arms 6'! into can holding position in time with the reception of the cans b in the turret pockets 45. It is while the cans b are so held in their pockets that their closed closure elements d are sealed by the flap sealing heads D.

There is one sealing head D for each pocket 45 of the turret 46, each head being located directly over the top of the filling opening c of the can b retained in its pocket. These heads are carried in a head block 8! (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) which of the rod having a shouldered portion, 88 which engages with a shoulder 89 formed on the inside of the head body stem. The upper end'of the 7 rod is threaded iiito the upper end of the cam slide 85 and is locked in place by a setscrew which is threaded into the cam slide. A compression spring 9| surrounds the rod and is interposed between the cam slide and the top of the head body stem 83 and provides a yieldable connection between these parts.

At its upper end the cam slide 85 carries a cam roller which operates in a cam groove 55 formed in a stationary cam 91. The cam is keyed onto the upper end of the stationary post 5|. Side wings 98 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed on'the cam slide engage against the outer surface of the cam and prevent turning of the slide in the head block 8i. I

As the column 48 rotates around the post 5I it carries the cam rollers 85 around in the groove 86 of the cam 01 and hence reciprocates the cam slide 85 in the head block 8|. It is this action which brings the sealing heads D down into flap sealing position on top of the advancing cans b.

Sealing of the closed flaps d is effected by arouate shaped expanding die members IOI, I02 (Figs. 5, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) which are associated with each sealing head D. Each die member is formed on the inner end of a slide bar I03 which operates within a groove I04. The grooves I04 are radially disposed in the bottom of each head body 82. The slide bars are held in place by a bottom plate I05 which is secured by screws I05to the bottom of the head. An endless coil spring I08 extends around the sealing head and is retained in curved seats I09 which are formed in the outer ends of the radially disposed slide bars I08. This spring normally holds the slide bars in toward the center of the head and in a contracted position as best shown in Fig. 10.

When a sealing head D is brought down on top of a closed can b by the cam 81 and 'cam slide 85, the bottom plate I05 of the head presses the can or bottle down in its turret pocket 45 against the resistance of the yieldable can supporting pad 58 until the top end of the can adjacent its end seam is pressed firmly against the edge of the pocket and clamped between the upper turret wall 45 and the sealing head (Fig. 14). The pocket is undercut as at III (Fig. 14) for this holding purpose. This action lowers the contracted die members IOI, I02 into the plug section e of the closure element 11.

Proper vertical location of the die members with respect to the plug section e is effected by the bottom plate holding screws I05. These screws extend down below the plate and serve as stops engaging against the top of the turret 45 and arresting further downward movement of the head D. However, the cam 91 continues to depress the cam slide 85 against the resistance of its spring BI.

This continued movement of the cam slide pushes the head supporting rod 81 down within the head body stem 88 and presses the extreme lower end of the rod against the inner faces of the radially disposed die members III. The end of the rod and also the inner faces of the die members are provided with corresponding tapered surfaces which cooperate to eflect an outward or expanding movement of these die members. The expanding die members IOI slide along the inner faces of the die members I02 and hence effect a similar expanding movement of the latter. Thus all the die members IOI, I02 and the slide bars are simultaneously expanded against the resistance of the endless spring I08.

The die members IOI, I02 are thus pressed outwardly against the side walls of the plug section e of the closure element d, and form a complete and full circle as shown in Fig. 11. It is this expanding action which forms the bead in the wills of the plug section. This completes the sealing of the filled can. It should be remembered that this sealing action is effected while the cans b are still moving around the stationary post 5i. At the end of the sealing action the vcam 9 raises the cam slide 85 and the head supporting rod 51. This withdraws the end of the rod from engagement with the inner faces of the die members III and permits the endless spring I08 to again contract the die members IDI, I02 as in Fig. 10. The sealing headD thereupon moves up into its original position which is above and spaced apart from-- the top of the sealed can. The can clamping arm 51 then moves away from i the side of the can to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 8. This releases the sealed can which moves into the discharge instrumentalitles.

The instrumentalities E include a continuously rotating discharge disc II5 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is mounted on a vertical shaft H6 (see also Fig. 1) carried in bearings II'I formed in the main frame 25. The disc is rotated by a gear II8 which is carried on the lower end of the shaft H5 and which meshes with a train of intermediate idler gears II! in turn driven by the column driving gear 54. The idler gears are carried on studs I2I which are threaded into the main frame 25.

The sealed cans in mechanism C are delivered onto the discharge disc II5 by a guide bar I24 (Fig. 2) which extends into the space between the upper and lower members of the turret 46 and across the path of travel of the cans through the station containing the flap sealing mechanism C, the inner end of the guide bar termihating-adjacent the column 48. The outer end of the barconnects with a curved guide rail I25 which is secured to the top of the main frame 25 and which extends around the periphery of the disc 5. An inner guide rail I26 also secured to the top of main frame 25 is spaced relative to and is parallel with the rail I25. One end of this rail connects with the guide rail 55 of the station wherein the flap sealing mechanism C is located.

'The advancing sealed cans in mechanism C engage against the guide bar I24 and are thus removed from the pockets 45 of the turret 45 andare deflected toward the discharge disc H5; A projecting portion I28'(Fig. 2) of the turret, adjacent each pocket, pushes the removed can from its supporting pad 58 and places it on the discharge disc as the turret revolves past the guide bar. The rotating discharge disc carries the cans through a curved path of travel between the guide rails I25, I25 and then delivers them onto an endless inspection belt I3I (Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

. The inspection belt I3I is disposed adjacent the disc H5 and in longitudinal alignment with the guide rails I25, I25, the top run of the belt being flush with the top of the disc. The belt is carried on a driving pulley I 32 and an idler pulley Ifl. Driving pulley I32 is mounted on a short shaft I84 carried in a bearing I35 formed in the main frame 25 adjacent the disc H5. The shaft carries a bevel gear I36 which meshes with asimilar bevel gear III mounted on the disc shaft II and secured by screws Ill to the bottom of the disc. I

The idler pulley I3! is mounted on a short shaft I39 which is carried in bearings I. These 5 bearings are formed in an extension I42 of the main frame 25.

Cans delivered onto the inspection belt I3I are directedalong a straight path of travel by spaced and parallel guide rails I43, I44 which 1o'-are connected to the ends of the curved guide rails I25, I26 and also to the frame'extension I42. While the cans are on the belt they may a be inspected for proper closing and sealing or other features as desired while they are advancmg toward the end of the machine. At the end of the belt the cans may be discharged to any suitable place of deposit.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be unde'rstood'from gothe foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of'the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim: 1. In a machine, for closing and sealing a h fibre container having a closure element hingedly infmounted on the top wall thereof and adapted to be inserted into an opening in said wall of the container, the combination of mechanism for advancing a said container along a predetermined path of travel through the machine,

means disposed in the path of the advancing,

container and above said closure element for engaging and inserting the closure element into the container opening, and means for expanding the inserted closure element within the container 4 opening and beneath the same for sealing the container during its further advancement;

2.- In a machine for closing and sealing a fibre container having 'a closure element hingedly mounted on a wall thereof and adapted to be inserted into an opening in a wall of said container, the combination of mechanism-for advancing a plurality of said containers along a predetermined path of travel through the machine in a continuous procession, means disposed 5 in the path of the advancing containers and above said closure element for inserting the closure elements of said containers successively into the openings in therespective containers as they are being advanced, and means for expanding the inserted closure elements within the container openings for sealing the containers during their further advancement.

3. In a machine for closing and'sealing a fibre container having a closure element hingedly 50 mounted on the top wall thereof and adapted to be inserted into an opening in said wall of the container, the combination of means for, advancing said container along a predetermined path of travel through the machine, devices disposed-in 35 the path of the advancing container and above said closure element for inserting the latter into the container opening, a sealing head disposed above the path of travel of said container'and actuated to travel intime with said container during a portionv of its advancement. and "die members on said sealing head .to be moved into encasement with said closure element for expanding the mate neath said opening and into,

advancement.

position while the head is traveling with the container. v

4. In. a machine for closing and sealing a fibre container having a closure element hingedly mounted on a wall thereof and adapted to be 5 inserted into an opening in a wall of said con-. tainer, the combination of-mechanism for advancing a .said container along a predetermined path of travel through the machine, means disposed in the path of the advancing container and m above said closure element for engaging and inserting the clown element into the container opening. means for expanding the inserted closure element within the container opening for sealing the container during its further advancement, and 15 clamping means movingwith said container for holding the container firmly in position in said advancing mechanism during the expanding of said inserted closure element.

5. In a machine for closing and sealing a fibre g container having a closure element hingedly,

mounted on a wall thereof and adapted to be 'insertedintoanopeninginawall of saidcontainenthe combination of mechanism for advancing a said container along a predetermined path 2: of travel through the machine, means disposed in the path of the advancing container and above said closure element for engaging and inserting the closure element into the container opening, means for expanding the inserted closure ele- 3i ment within the container opening for sealing the container during its further advancement, and discharge instrumentalities including a container inspecting station for discharging the sealed container from the machine. s1 6. In a machine for closing and sealing a fibre container having a .closure element hingedly' mounted on the top wall thereof adapted tobe inserted into an opening in said wail of the container, the combination of'means including a turret having container receiving pockets for ads vancing said container along a predetermined path of travel through the machine. means disposed'in the path of the advancing container and above said closure element for engaging the same 4 and inserting it into the bpening of said advancing container, a? sealing head disposed above and traveling in time with a said advancing container in. a pocket of said turret, yieldable means for supporting said container while in said turret 5 pocket, actuating devices for moving said sealing head down on said container for clamping ,the container firmly agalnstthe top of said turret adjacent the pocket and against the resistance of the yieldable supporting means, and die members on said sealing head for expanding said'inserted closure element within said opening and into container sealing position while the advancing container is so held.

I. In a machine for closing and sealing a fibre container having a hinged closure element attached to a wall of said container and adapted-to be inserted into an opening in said wall, the combination of means for advancing a said container a predetermined path of travel, means dis- 1 posed above said path of travel for m said closure element into inserted position in the opening of'said container as the latter is advancedfand means for expanding the inserted closure element within the container opening for 1 sealing the container as an incident to its further JOHN M. HO I'HERSALL. AUGUST E. AIMGREN, 

